A short-lister for George W. Bush's running mate in 2000, Ridge is a popular former governor of Pennsylvania and a draw among independents there and in neighboring Ohio. His Bronze Star for service in Vietnam and record as a tax cutter make him popular with traditional Republicans. His biggest weaknesses are his pro-choice stance on abortion and his lobbying ties: Ridge went straight from being Bush's Homeland Security chief (where his tenure was troubled by the shaky start-up of the new agency) to a big Washington firm specializing in those issues.
by Massimo Calabresi, with reporting by James Downie/Washington